received the bill last week. Will pay 5 years in advance that way I dont have to see it for a while.

Hi,

I've changed cantons last November and I've recently got a Serafe bill to my old address (forwarded by post). I've already contacted communes in the old and new place and they have their data updated. Serafe ppl are not replying to my emails.
WTF should I do?
I hope the post informed them that I'm not on the old address any more, but who knows if they give a f*** about that. The new place is shared household and we will pay that one, but I don't feel like paying it twice.

Thanks!

You do not have to pay it for the old address. This is an error. Serafe only started on 1.1.19. Serafe have very old data (at least 7 months old), so if you only moved in November this is why you are receiving it. You can trash it. We received one for an old address as well and we moved last year in June!

Write: "New address since" ... and the new address on the bill.
Return the bill to Serafe.
Make a copy of it before you send it off.
Add copies of the emails you already sent about it.

Update from yesterday. Anyone wanting their invoice corrected because it has names of other people on it should contact Serafe and not their town hall.

https://www.20min.ch/schweiz/news/st...rwarr-24078929

They read emails but do not answer.
At least people in Billag bothered to.
Just awful.

Billag answered your emails?

I guess I must have been blacklisted then.

They did kindly, and kindly answer the phone.

I am really disappointed.
This is the arrogance of an enforced public tax, handled by a private.

Beobachter also has an article on the Serafe chaos:

https://www.beobachter.ch/digital/mu...aum-erreichbar

In this article, my first complaint concerns the second word: "Kunden".


I´m not a customer. I´m forced to pay something against my will. If I do not pay, eventually I´ll be visited by police (as the last consequence).


I call this extortion.


I repeat: I am most certainly not a customer.

There is a 5-year transition period where you can continue to remain exempt. Opt out, - that way you don't have to pay it.

I wouldn't qualify, as I do have internet access and a laptop.


Seriously: I don't mind a state sponsored TV, but I do mind a waste of public money.


This whole SERAFE (as did Billag) adds so much unneeded bureaucracy and B$, and the extra SERAFE cost doesn't exert any additional benefit, i.e. control over how the money is spent.


If needs be, they might as well raise VAT by 0.1 or 0.3%, whatever yields a similar amount, and then pay the costs from this revenue.


It would defo save quite an amount of hassle.

Since when this stop anyone from not paying Billag?

The new law concerning this fee might make some people reconsider: BAKOM may now forcefully enter your flat without needing a search warrant, and it's no longer an offence, it's now a criminal matter.

Bakom does not have more power than the police and the police still need a search warrant.

We're not in a third world dictatorship.

Furthermore, not every search will necessarily reveal any evidence but will still cost money every time. I don't think they will just print out a list of people who are exempt and start kicking down doors in alphabetical order.

Add to that that many people either genuinely don't have devices, or know how to hide them. Very easy if the only device you have is a tablet or mobile phone.

Such a search will easily cost a 4 figure sum. That's the complete annual contributions of quite a few subscribers down the drain to spend hours rummaging through the linen and lifting floorboards of people who are having a bit of fun playing cat and mouse with them.

Scare tactics dear Watson. Not going to happen.

This is not Brexit. The vote was not advisory.

Precisely, as they will have to employ new staff to do this, plus it is only for 5 years, so I'm sure anyone who previously exempted themselves from Billag can do the same with Serafe until 31.12.23 and not worry too much.

Just wait till you make a small mistake.. like, telling someone (in real life, who knows your name/address) that you're cheating out of paying the TV tax - unfortunately that someone either at that time, or even later - becoming on less than good terms with you.

Taking revenge hasn't been easier than inform Bakom about someone who opted out without a proper reason..

Fortunately no longer applies to us as we are non-residents, so became exempt before the Serafe nonsense started. We never paid Billag. But I see your point.

For all their faults, the Swiss are not a nation of snitches.